GREATNESS-IN-WAITING
Bong Hawkins was never the flashiest player on the court, but his impact was undeniable. A no-nonsense force for the dynastic Alaska Milkmen of the ‘90s, he built a career on quiet excellence.
Yet, his omission from the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 40 Greatest Players list a decade ago sparked a lot of discussions.
How could a cornerstone of Alaska’s championship machine be left out of such a storied list?
“I’m not really disappointed,” he said. “It’s just a bit disheartening. A lot of people said I should have been on that list. But I told them, there was nothing I could do. It’s out of my control, after all. They’re the ones who make the decisions,” he said at the sidelines of Basketbol Baliktanaw summit at Ortigas Foundation in San Juan on Sunday.
Confronted with a long-dormant scar, Hawkins finally relented.
“I feel a bit bad,” he said, his eyes glistening.
For years, Hawkins’ absence—alongside that of Nelson Asaytono’s—has been a point of contention. Their omission is an oversight many hope the PBA would rectify when it unveils 10 new names this week to add to the fabled bunch in celebration of its 50th founding anniversary.
Hawkins is a nine-time PBA champion, he was instrumental in delivering eight titles to the Milkmen, including a historic Triple Crown sweep in 1996 that punctuated the team’s iron-handed rule of that era.
Individually, he is a Finals MVP and a Best Player of the Conference (BPC) awardee. He made the All-Star team thrice and was also a member of the All-Defensive team in 1994, the same year he was feted as Most Improved Player. More importantly, he was twice a top contender for the season MVP.
Ever the glue guy, Hawkins framed his body of work through the lens of his team’s success.
“I think if even one of us were missing, things would have been completely different. Whether it was me, Johnny (Abarrientos), Jojo (Lastimosa), or Jeff (Cariaso), and then Kenneth (Duremdes) who came in a little later. That was quite the core, and that’s why we were so consistent during that time,” Hawkins said.
“I know I played a big part in that dynasty.”
Cariaso’s continued exclusion is as puzzling as Hawkins’. Like Hawkins, Cariaso was a pillar of the Alaska dynasty, but his credentials extend beyond that era.
Another important piece of that Alaska dynasty, Cariaso had seven more All-Star selections, three more All-Defensive Team nods, and twice as many Mythical First Team memberships as his longtime teammate.
Culmination
The Rookie of the Year in 1995, Cariaso tabbed the BPC when he suited up for the Coca-Cola Tigers in 2002 before winning a Finals MVP the next year. He ended his career with a total of eight PBA championships.
“I believe making the list is the culminating award that you can receive at the end of your career,” he told the Inquirer. “It is something that shows great honor and appreciation for what you brought to the game—the way you played, your style, and the impact you made—it’s an honor that players truly appreciate.”
Asked about his feelings on possibly living through another decade of being snubbed, Cariaso responded candidly.
“Just being considered is already a blessing,” he said. “Do I want to make it? Of course. Do I believe I deserve to be there? Absolutely. But it’s out of my control. I know there’s a panel that’s deciding this.”
“Also, I bet you know the story and I think I’ve already told you as well: I’ve been through two heartaches with the national team. Remember, I didn’t make the first one. I didn’t make the second one, but I finally made the third one,” Cariaso said. “So, you know, the third time’s the charm if I don’t make it this time.”
